Local Area
Tall John’s Manor House is set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, the third of the three Welsh parks. It stretches from Llandeilo to Hay on Wye and down to Pontypridd, covering 519 square miles .
Tall John’s looks across to the Black Mountains on one side and over to the Brecon Beacons on the other.
The Black Mountains in the east are clearly separated from the central Beacons by the valley of the River Usk, running between Brecon and Abergavenny.
The entire national park achieved the status of being an International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013. Stargazers come from far and wide to enjoy the night skies in the Park.
The landscape of the Brecon Beacons National Park is wonderfully varied. Waterfalls, rivers and lakes abound and the wonderful high, wild hill and mountain moorland is a splendid habitiat for a huge variety of wildlife.
The Park is well forested and amongst the woodland there are grassy valleys and paths for walking. For those who enjoy exploring caves there are a multitude… in fact the Park has something for everyone.
Although many guests who come to stay in Honeysuckle Cottage or The Coachmans have quite active plans for walking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, golf, riding, mountain biking etc, there are also many people who just want to drive around and soak up this amazing scenery. Within a short drive of the Manor House the country changes many times from splendid mountains, to riverside towns, to forestry tracks and open moorland.
Of course it is a photographer’s heaven! There are so many fine pictures capturing the scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park and on this page we have just selected a tiny few. But of course you need to see this for yourself… a picture may say a thousand words but to see something with your own eyes is irreplaceable.
Wales is such a marvellous area for holidays and short breaks of all kinds. Here at Tall John’s House, we have individuals, couples and groups coming for B & B in the manor house, some groups of families and friends who take over the whole house for their exclusive use and naturally our self-catering cottages are very popular. All our guests come because they are drawn to this amazing area of outstanding natural beauty.
But this is not to say that the National Park is purely a holiday destination. We have a vibrant community in the Park with all sorts of occupations and businesses thriving within the restrictions of the Park. There are a lot of interesting small companies operating in the Park, often family-run. Perhaps entrepreneurs and people who have their own ideas are drawn to this special place. Of course pride of place must go to the farmers (there are over 3 sheep to every resident in the National Park!) but there are many other interesting and lucrative businesses within the Park.
GOLF
We have many 18 hole golf courses within 45 minutes’ drive of us. Our nearest Golf Clubs are Brecon and Cradoc which are under twenty minutes away. We are only forty five minutes away from the Celtic Manor Resort which hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup.
FISHING
Even for more experienced fly-fishermen the wily trout of River Usk will still provide an exciting challenge! There are many great fishing spots all along the river- a great way to spend a tranquil summer evening. The River Wye is also close by and excels in both salmon and trout fishing.
THREE RIVERS RIDE
The Three Rivers Ride goes straight past Tall John's House and we can accommodate riders and horses. There are also several pony trekking and riding establishments in the area.
TALYBONT WATERFALLS
Above the village of Talybont, the River Caerfanell drops through the mountains in a series of spectacular gorges and cascading waterfalls. The National Park has worked hard to create a network of well-maintained footpaths throughout the area with plenty of spots for a picnic, lots of photo opportunities and a great day out for all the family.
TALGARTH
The ancient village of Talgarth is a quarter of an hour's drive away. You can visit the working watermill in the centre of town and sample some of the bread in the cafe. Talgarth has a post office, shop, five pubs and a doctor's surgery.
PENGENFORDD
The Dragon's Back and Dinas Castle. Three miles outside the village of Talgarth you can park in the Dragon's Back pub car park (all proceeds go to charity) and begin your walk enjoying the stunning views of the mountains. If you want to do a shorter walk you can hike straight up to the ruins of Dinas Castle.
MYNYDD LLANGORSE
For a shorter walk, park at the foot of Mynydd Llangorse. The initial ascent is steep but will give you stunning views of the surrounding area and Llangorse Lake- a perfect photo opportunity.
LLANGORSE MULTI-ACTIVITY CENTRE
Llangorse Multi-activity centre is a short drive away. You can go climbing in the indoor climbing centre or as we recommend go on a horse ride in the surrounding countryside. They have treks, rides and hacks suitable for all levels.
LLANTHONY PRIORY AND THE GOSPEL PASS
There is a beautiful drive along the Gospel Pass to Llanthony Priory. The ancient ruins were first built in the 12th Century and have since seen the comings and goings of rebellions, kings and poets.
LLANGORSE LAKE
Take a short drive to - or even walk around Llangorse Lake. The lake is the largest glacial lake in south Wales and home to a myriad of wildlife. For keen fishermen and women you can hire a boat and fish on the lake or you can hire paddleboards and rowing boats. There is a reconstructed Crannog- which is a model of the Celtic village that once existed on the lake.
LLANGASTY CHURCH AND BIRD HIDE
If you don't wish to stray too far we can recommend a lovely walk to St.Gastyn's Church and Bird hide. Turn left out of the gate and follow signs to the lovely church situated on the edge of Llangorse Lake. Follow the footpath through the conservation area to the bird hide where you can sit and watch the many varieties of water birds that live on the lake. If you continue right round the lake you will arrive in the village of Llangorse where there are two pubs for refreshment.
HAY-ON-WYE
The world famous 'town of books' is only 30 minutes away. This small town hosts the Hay Festival book festival every year at the end of May. Hay has its own castle as well as many bookshops and antiques shops.
CRICKHOWELL
A short drive away, Crickhowell is a small but bustling town. The town has many small shops and cafes and is a perfect for place to spend an afternoon browsing. There are a number of pubs in the town; we recommend The Bear for an evening meal.
CASTLES
Delve into Welsh history and visit some of the many castles in our area. Within easy reach by car there are castles that range from large impressive fortresses like that of Raglan Castle to smaller round keeps like those in Tretower. Many of our nearby towns such as Brecon, Hay and Crickhowell still have medieval keeps in their center. For the more adventurous there is the Three Castles walk that begins in Whitecastle and covers approximately 20 miles.
GLASBURY
For a fun filled river adventure try canoeing down the river Wye from Glasbury. Wind down the river through some beautiful Welsh countryside. Bring along a picnic and enjoy some scenic stops down the river.